Bjorn-gil Felag; Rancho Cucamonga, California  

 


   

Hávamál                   
            The Sayings of Hár

'Tis better unasked than offered over-much;
for a gift demands a gift;
Better not to send than to slay too many.
Thus did Odhinn rist ere MiðgardR began,
when up he rose in after time.
What we open with here is a none to subtle warning to the un-initiated provided by the Alfather himself; beware of what you ask; give equal value for what you receive; have a care with how you use runic skills. Thus I arrive at: Ansuz, Gebo, Hagalz.
These galdr I know that are unknown to rulers
or any earthly wight:
'Help' is one hight, for help it can
in hours of sorrow and care and sickness.
o.k.
That other I know; the sons of men
who leeches list be:
scratch of them on bark from stems in the copse
their mighty limbs striving for Austri's realm.
o.k.
That third is known; if my need be great
in the thick of battle,
I can dull the swords of deadly foes
their weapons will make no wounds.
o.k.
That fourth is known; if foes should bind me fast
it will quickly free me
I spake galdr the chains to break
Fetters spring from the feet,
Bonds burst off my hands.
o.k.
That fifth is known; if from foeman's hand
an arrow speed into the throng,
flies too fast for its flight to stay
once my eye holds it in mid–air.
o.k.
That sixth is known; if someone wounds me
with runes on a sapling's root
or rouses my wrath with reckless tongue
the hater is blighted, not I.
o.k.
That seventh is known; if a hall
ablaze o'er sleeping heads:
however bright the blaze,they feel nothing
that mighty galdr I can speak.
o.k.
That eighth is known; that are all glad of,
needful and well to know:
when hatred is in the heart of warriors,
their strife soon will be calm.
o.k.
That ninth is known; when need there be
to guard a ship in the storm,
the wind it calms and the waves also
and the Sea is lulled to sleep.
o.k.
That tenth is known; if troublesome hags
ride the skies aloft
galdr I work so they scatter astray,
heedless of their forms
heedless of their homes.
o.k.
That eleventh is known; when to battle I lead
old comrades to the frey:
behind shield, galdr do I chant
hale and whole to war
unwounded from war
unscathed wherever they be.
o.k.
That twelfth is known; if on a tree bare
one be hoisted on high in a halter,
thus runes risted and stained true
cause the body to drop,
reply how-so-ever I deem.
o.k.
That thirteenth is known; if water pure
over drengir is thrown
never will he fall in the fiercest battle
nor sink beneath, wounded by sword.
o.k.
That fourteenth is known; that few know,
if to an assembly I sing,
of the Aesir and alfs all,
I name them true altogether.
o.k.
That fifteenth is known; which sang Thjöthrerir,
the dwarf, before Delling's door
giving strength to Aesir, prowess to the alfs,
by his song, foresight to Odhinn.
o.k.
That sixteenth is known; if a maid I do seek,
with whom to work my will:
towards me her thoughts do turn
the white-armed woman's heart I bewitch.
o.k.
That seventeenth is known; if a slender maid's love
to have and to hold:
thusly do I sing galdr
she hardly to forsake me over another.
o.k.
In learning this lore, Loddfáfnir,
will a long time take
though helpful they are, if this wisdom becomes thine
helpful if you heed them
needful if you know them.
o.k.
That eighteenth is known; which I will never tell
neither to maid nor wife of man
a secret, the last of my galdr I hide from all:
but only to the love who in my arms lies
or else to mine own sister also.
o.k.
Now are the Wise-Ones sayings spoken in Hár's Hall
needful to the sons of men
harmful for the sons of etins:
Hail to the Speaker,
hail to those who know,
joy to them that grasp,
delight to them that heed.
o.k.

Alone she sat out   when the lord of gods,
Óthinn the Old,   her eye didst seek:
"What seekest to know,   why summon me?
Well knowest I, Ygg,   where thy eye be hidden:
in the wondrous   well of Mímir;
each morn Mímir   his mead doth quaff
out of Fjolnir's pledge:   know ye further, or how?
Stanza #28 The Völuspá  


homeward bound
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